Drinking Calories

Why You Should (Usually) Avoid Drinking Your Calories

Liquid calorie consumption is one of the leading causes of the obesity epidemic we’re currently sitting in (pun intended). Those who consume many of their extra and unnecessary calories each day from liquids tend to be overweight more often than those who don’t consume an equal amount of calories from liquids. Though the reason might not be what you think.

Do you remember the last time you just couldn’t help yourself and overate on raw veggies and fish? There probably hasn’t been a time because that’s near impossible unless you’re force-feeding yourself. One main reason liquid calories are so easy to overdo is not because they’re usually high in sugar, they’re very tasty, or they’re tied to social events, but because of how easy it is to consume large amounts of calories and not feel satisfied. You can consume 400 liquid calories in a matter of seconds and still want more. I challenge you to try consuming 400 calories worth of chicken breast and broccoli, see how quickly you can get it down, and see how satisfied you feel afterwards. My guess is you probably have an idea what that might feel like already.

Some of the worst culprits for excessive liquid calorie consumption are flavored coffee drinks (regular coffee is a-okay), sports drinks, fruit juices, alcohol, and, of course, pop. By all means, have a little in moderation, but if you consume any of these more than a few times per week, you’re really not helping yourself.

Some of the better liquid calorie choices that I believe are decent options to be consumed in moderation include milk, unsweetened almond/coconut milk and low-calorie electrolyte beverages. When consuming these products, it’s still always going to be wise to check the ingredient list, how many calories are in each serving and how many servings you’re accustomed to drinking each day.

As you can imagine, water should pretty much always be your #1 beverage choice. Cutting out liquid calories, or at least cutting back on them, can help you lose weight and control your weight loss with ease. Aim to drink ½ of your body weight (in pounds) in ounces of water per day. That means if you weight 200 lbs, drink at least 100 ounces of water. If you exercise and/or sweat a lot, that number should increase to account for body water lost through sweat.